KIRKUK: At least 25 civilians and members of government forces have been killed in northern Iraq since late Sunday in attacks by the Islamic State group, officials said, reports AFP. A police officer told AFP that IS jihadists killed 15 people at a fake roadblock on a major highway in Kirkuk province,…

NEW DELHI: At least nine trekkers have died in a forest fire in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials say, repots BBC. Authorities say they have rescued 21 people from the Kurangini hills - a popular trekking destination - where the fire broke out on Sunday. Many of those injured have suffered…

PYONGYANG: South Korea says it has not received a response from Pyongyang on a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, reports BBC. In a surprise development, Mr Trump on Friday accepted North Korea's invitation to direct talks. South Korean officials said Mr…

BOGOTA: Colombia's conservative parties, opposed to the 2016 peace deal with Farc rebels, have taken the lead in the country's elections, reports BBC. Sunday's vote was the first in which the former Farc guerrillas, now a political party, took part. With more than 90% of votes counted, ex-president…

TOKYO: Japan’s finance minister admitted yesterday that official papers related to a favouritism scandal dogging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had been altered, but denied any plans to step down over the row, reports AFP. Abe’s government has faced mounting pressure in recent days over the 2016…